Williams Suffers Narrow Defeat at Springfield College 72-71

Springfield, MA - The Williams College Ephs (3-2), coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss, did not have to travel far for their second away game of the season against the Springfield College Pride (4-3). In a thrilling back-and-forth match up with twelve lead changes and season-high scoring from first-year guard Micah Walton and senior captain Arianna Gerig, Springfield ultimately emerged victorious, 72-71, on a last-second shot.

Springfield came out strong early, sinking three well-executed close-range jumpers to gain an early lead. Williams, emphasizing interior play on both offense and defense, responded quickly. Walton drove and drew a foul, converting one of two free throws, while Gerig added two free throws and a layup. The Pride maintained their offensive rhythm with precise shooting, but Williams' interior scoring kept the game close. Gerig led the way with seven first-quarter points. Thanks to a late three from Kate Keenan and two made free throws by Logan Coster, Williams trailed by just three at the end of the first quarter, 22-19.

In the second quarter, both defenses tightened, a hallmark of the Ephs' identity this season, even when offensive production lags. Big Mairi Smith connected on a pull-up jumper off a Walton assist, and Walton followed up with a strong drive to tie the game at 23. However, Springfield quickly answered with a catch-and-shoot three. Ellie Tounkara recorded her first points to keep things close, and Walton's back-to-back drives gave Williams their first lead, 30-28. The quarter stayed quiet apart from another Keenan three and one from Skylar Chui. After a series of made free throws and close buckets, Williams led 40-39 at the half.

Coming out of halftime, the pace slowed as both teams focused on methodical play. Williams initially gained momentum with baskets from Tounkara and Walton to build a 44-39 lead. However, Springfield refused to let the Ephs pull away, answering with a jumper and a three-pointer that tied the game at 44. This sparked an 8-0 run for the Pride, showcasing their balanced scoring as all five starters finished in double digits. While Springfield moved the ball effectively and capitalized on defensive lapses, Williams stuck to their interior focus. Gerig's layup and three-point play, along with another Smith jumper, kept the Ephs within striking distance. The quarter ended with Springfield up 55-51.

Springfield opened the fourth with a quick three to extend their lead to seven, but Williams remained poised. Walton scored her final basket of the night, achieving a career-high 18 points, followed by a steal and assist from Smith, setting up Cortland McBarron's first points. Smith, who finished with four steals, was a defensive anchor. With two more made free throws from Gerig and a clutch three-pointer from Tounkara, Williams completed a comeback to take the lead, 60-58. Gerig extended the lead with a drive and a pull-up jumper, finishing with a season-high 20 points. Tounkara shone in the final minutes, scoring five points, including a critical three with seven seconds left to retake the lead, 71-70. 

Yet, when it mattered most, Springfield delivered. Despite letting a seven-point lead slip, the Pride answered every Williams shot with threes and tough contested jumpers. Off an inbound play with seconds remaining, Springfield converted a game-winning layup to claim a 72-71 victory.

Reflecting on the narrow loss, Eph head coach Pat Manning said, "What a game, a heartbreaker. The level of play was so high tonight by both teams. To fight back being down a couple of times, Arianna Gerig was tremendous with 20/10/5. Micah broke out; she's a first-year and really showed it tonight. Ellie had the important shot to give us the lead, Cortland had key rebounds, and Smith's defensive play was crucial. There was such growth in our team tonight from Saturday, and for that reason, it feels like a win. We are looking to get better every game so we are tested by the time conference play rolls around."

The Ephs look to break their two-game skid as they get a week-long break before hosting Smith College on December 4th at 7 pm.